Notably, the nuclear test by India made it the sixth country, the only one outside the five members of UN Security Council – US, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, and China to achieve the feat, thereby establishing our country as a nuclear power.

Raja Ramanna, who was then the director of India’s premier nuclear research institute Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) supervised the crucial test which was conducted under the leadership of PM Indira Gandhi.

Here are some interesting facts about the test:

-India tested its first fission bomb, a nuclear weapon that had the explosion power similar to the bomb dropped by the USA in Hiroshima, Japan.

-The test was named ‘Smiling Buddha’ because it was conducted on Buddha Purnima that year.

-A team of 75 scientists and engineers, led by Raja Ramanna, PK Iyengar, Rajagopala Chidambaram, and others had worked on it from 1967 to 1974

-The test made international headlines because India had become the first non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to conduct such a test

Twitter celebrates the historic day

On the occasion, many leaders and citizens alike took to Twitter to remember the glorious day:

On this day in 1974 India conducted its first nuclear test,#SmilingBuddha under the leadership of then PM Smt #IndiraGandhi ji & with the untiring efforts & contribution of our scientists & military officers. My tributes to them,who wrote a new chapter in India’s nuclear journey. pic.twitter.com/LZ677BeLGm

Today, in 1974 under the leadership of Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi Ji India created history by conducting its first peaceful Nuclear Test, the #SmilingBuddha in Pokhran. pic.twitter.com/665MBf1Dla

May 18, 1978, was the day of #SmilingBuddha as our country India witnessed the success of first nuclear bomb test. With this, we became the sixth country in the world to conduct nuclear test. Thank you so much to our scientists to make us a powerful country. 🙏💪@ashokgehlot51pic.twitter.com/Si4tUPbJiW

One unyielding act of determination by former PM Indira Gandhi, by not bowing to global pressures,saw the emergence of India as a nuclear superpower, through the #SmilingBuddha test in #Pokhran on 18th May, 1974. An incredible feat considering our nation had just found its feet! pic.twitter.com/enUusEWXLx